Dodgers place Hanley on DL, promote Barney

MILWAUKEE -- The Dodgers on Sunday placed shortstop Hanley Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle, retroactive to Saturday, and recalled Darwin Barney from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Manager Don Mattingly said the diagnosis on Ramirez's injury was "not too bad," but the club was "being a little cautious," as Ramirez might have been physically ready to return in 10 days. Mattingly said he'd rather have Ramirez sitting healthy the final five days of the window than have his club play shorthanded in August for a week or more.

"And then [if] he tries to play [too soon he could do] something worse, and we risk him being out the rest of the year," Mattingly said. "This assures [us] he'll be available down the stretch."

Mattingly said Ramirez, who has tried hard to stay off the disabled list with free agency looming, accepted the decision. He has missed 25 starts this year with assorted injuries.

"There wasn't really a fight," Mattingly said. "That led us down the same road. He knows he's not able to swing the bat. That's an injury you can't disguise and can't hide or play through it. He knows one way to swing -- on the attack and aggressive. You could tell he knew this is the right thing."

Mattingly indicated that defensive specialist Miguel Rojas would probably start most games at shortstop while Ramirez is out. Rojas started Saturday and Sunday. Barney and Justin Turner would back up.

Barney, a former winner of the National League Gold Glove Award at second base, was acquired in a trade on July 28 after being designated for assignment by the Cubs, and he has been at Triple-A Albuquerque brushing up on playing shortstop and third base. He made five errors in nine games.

"There was a time I was much more comfortable at shortstop," said Barney. "But I feel comfortable there again, and a lot more at third. I'll do what they ask. It was good to get time on the left side of the infield and work on the internal clock [with less time to throw to first base, compared to second base]."

Ramirez was injured before Friday night's game but tried to play, only to be removed after the top of the first inning.

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.